Seven-time World champion Lewis Hamilton became the first Formula One driver to take 100 pole positions after lapping fastest in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
The 36-year-old Mercedes driver was already the record holder by a massive margin, with retired Ferrari great and fellow seven-time champion Michael Schumacher second on the list with 68.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualified on the front row alongside the championship-leading Briton, who has an eight- point lead over the Dutch driver, with Valtteri Bottas qualifying third for Mercedes.
“I feel very humble and very grateful. I’m ecstatic, like it’s my first,” said Hamilton after the session at the Circuit de Catalunya.
“I can’t believe we’re at 100 and it’s down to the men and women back at the factory who are continuously raising the bar and never giving up,” said Hamilton, who will be chasing a record-extending 98th career win on Sunday.
“The support that I have, it’s a dream for me to work with these guys and the journey that we have been on has been immense.”
Hamilton, who took his first pole with McLaren in 2007, had set the fastest time of one minute 16.741 seconds with his first flying lap of the final phase and was unable to improve on it with his second.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified fourth with Esteban Ocon fifth on the grid for Alpine ahead of Ferrari’s Spaniard Carlos Sainz.
